You are here

That Club at Pfaaf's [sic]

English's "Letter to the Editor of the Literary World" is his attempt to dissociate himself from the Bohemian group that gathered at Pfaff's. English also attempts to dissociate Thomas Butler Gunn from this group. English's piece was written in response to Stylus's "Our New York Letter," which listed both English and Gunn as members of the "Bohemian club" at "Pfaaf's" [sic].

Related Works

English's "Letter to the Editor of the Literary World" is his attempt to dissociate himself from the Bohemian group that gathered at Pfaff's. English's piece was written in response to "Our New York," which listed both English and Gunn as members of the "Bohemian club" at Pfaff's.

People Mentioned in this Work

English claims O'Brien, Clapp, and Arnold "used to laughingly class themselves as Bohemians, speak of Pfaff, his beer; but they spoke of no club" (202). English states, "I remember very well saying to one of these gentlemen, with a feeble attempt at pleasantry -- 'As there are so many buyers of beer among your people it is quite proper that you should have a cellar to receive you'" (202).

English claims O'Brien, Clapp, and Arnold "used to laughingly class themselves as Bohemians, speak of Pfaff, his beer; but they spoke of no club" (202). English states, "I remember very well saying to one of these gentlemen, with a feeble attempt at pleasantry -- 'As there are so many buyers of beer among your people it is quite proper that you should have a cellar to receive you'" (202).

English's "Letter to the Editor of the Literary World" is his attempt to disassociate himself with the Bohemians at Pfaff's. English states, "I was not a member of such an association, nor have I been connected with any social club in New York -- except, for a short time, with the Author's; nor was I ever in Pfaaf's, or Pfaff's, in my life. I am not quite sure where it was" (202).

English dissociates himself from Sothern, Clark, Butler, and Mackenzie. This letter was written as a response to "Our New York Letter," published in The Literary World 20 February 1886.

English mentions that Gunn was also mentioned as a frequenter of Pfaff's in the "Our New York" piece. English claims to know Gunn as he was a steady contributor to "a New York journal" to which English was also "connected." English states, "He was a correct, upright, and decorous gentleman, anything but a Bohemian, as the term is generally understood. He never spoke of such a club to me" (202).

English claims O'Brien, Clapp, and Arnold "used to laughingly class themselves as Bohemians, speak of Pfaff, his beer; but they spoke of no club" (202). English states, "I remember very well saying to one of these gentlemen, with a feeble attempt at pleasantry -- 'As there are so many buyers of beer among your people it is quite proper that you should have a cellar to receive you'" (202).

English claims O'Brien, Clapp, and Arnold "used to laughingly class themselves as Bohemians, speak of Pfaff, his beer; but they spoke of no club" (202).

English states, "I have a notion that Pfaff's place was in a basement, a sort of underground eating-house and beer-room. I remember very well saying to one of these gentlemen, with a feeble attempt at pleasantry -- 'As there are so many buyers of beer among your people it is quite proper that you should have a cellar to receive you.' But as far as my personal knowledge goes, the place may have been in a garret" (202).

ELECTRONIC SOURCE

An electronic version of this text is available at American Periodicals Series Online, a subscription database of U.S. newspapers from 1740 to 1900 available to individuals and institutions that purchase a license for its use. Viewing the electronic version of this text will lead you to an external website. Please report dead links to digitlib@lehigh.edu.